Breech-loading fire-arm



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BBEEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

No. 403,959. Patented May 28, 1889.

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No. 403,959. Patented May28, 1889.

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NITED STATES ATENT rricn.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,959, dated May 28, 1889.

Application led October 2, 1888. Serial No. 287,002. (No model.)

' inafter, and particularly pointed out in the In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a breech-loading gun embodying our improvements, showing the same arranged in the firing position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same with a portion of the lock-case removed, so as to disclose the interior mechanism. Fig. 3 is a top plan viewof our improved breech-loading gun. Fig'. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken on the line 5c a: of Fig. 8, and showing the part-s of the gun in position for extracting the cartridge-shell. Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the extracting-arm and the pivot therefor. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the breech-block. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the tang or link.

A represents the lock-ease, which is made of a single piece of metal, has its lower side open, and is provided at its rear upper corner with a rearward-extending tang or arm, B, which is adapted to t in a recess, O, in the upper side of the stock D.- The front upper corner of the case is provided with a longitudinalthreaded opening, E, in which is screwed the breech of the barrel F.

G represents a vertical opening, which is made through the lock-case immediately in rear of the breech of the barrel, and H represents a vertical opening, which is made in the upper side of the lock-case in rear of and communieating with the opening G. The latter extends entirely through the lock-case, and the opening H communicates with t-he hollow interior or chamber I of the lock-case. Said chamber I and vertical opening G are separated by a vertical partition, K, which is formed of the same piece with the lock-ease.

In the lower front corner of the opening G is formed a recess, L.

M represents a bolt or pin, which passes transversely through the lock case and through the front side of the opening G, and is arranged at a suitable distance below the bore of the barrel. The said pin or boltis in contact with the front side of opening G. Pivoted on the said pin or bolt, near one end thereof, is an extractor-arm, N, which is normally arranged in a vertical recess, O, and has its upper end inclined inwardly toward the bore of the barrel. The usual annular groove, P, is made in the breech of the barrel for the reception of the base-rim of the cartridge, and a portion of this groove is formed in the upper end of the extractor-arm. From the rear side of the extractor-arm, at the lower end thereof, projects a cam, R, and arranged at substantially right angle to the cam is a depending detent point, S, which is adapted to engage the front wall ofthe opening G when the extractor-arm has been inclined rearward to the extent necessary to cause the same to withdraw the cartridgeshells from the breech of the barrel.

'l represents the breech-block, which is adapted to iit in the opening G, and has its front and rear sides parallel, and its upper end curved, as shown. In the front side of the breech-block, near the lower end thereof, is formed a transverse recess, U, the inner side of which is sigmoidal in shape. On one side of the breech-block, at the front end thereof, is a recess, V, which is vertical, communicates with the recess U, and has its upper and lower sides curved and inclined downward and forward. The rearward-proj ecting cam and the dowmvard-extending point of the extractor-arm are contained in the recess V when the breech-block is raised, so as to close the breech of the barrel and bear against the base of the cartridge. At the rear lower corner of the breech-block are vformed a pair of depeiiding-ears, IV.

X represents a iiring-pin of the usual construction, which is arranged in the upper portion of the breech-block.

Y represents the guard-lever, which is of the usual shape, and is provided at its front end with an arm, Z, which enters the recess IOO L of the lock-case, and is pivoted on a pin or bolt, A'. Onthe upperside of the guard-lever, near the t ron t end thereof, are formed a pair of cars, B'.

C' represents a link, which has its upper end pivoted between the ears XV of the breechblock by means of a pin, D', and has itslower end pivoted between the ears D' of the guardlever by means ot a pin, E', and thereby the breech-block is connected to and adapted to be operated by the guard-lever.

F' represents the hammer-block, which is arranged in the recess l of the lock-case, and has a rearward-extending arm, which. is provided at its rear end with an elongated transverse opening, ll', and is adapted to tit between the ears C of the tang B. A pin, l', passes through transverse openings in the said ears, and through the opening H', and thereby pivots the hammer-block to the tang and enables the said hammer-block to swing up and down in the lock-case and to play lon gi.- tudinally to a slight extent on the pivot. The lower front corner of the hammer-block is provided with a forward-extending arm, K', which is adapted to be engaged by a shoulder, L', near the front end of the guardlever. The hammer-block is formed of two parts, M' and N', which are secured together bv a pair of screws, O', and have an opening, P', formed between their opposing sides in the upper portion of the block, in which is fitted the lower end of thc hammer R'. Said hammer is of the usual construction, and has its lower end pivoted on a pin.

T' represents a detent, which is pivoted inl the hammer-block and has one end curved upward and adapted to engage the notches in the lower end of the hammer, so as to secure the latter at half or full cock, as in the usual manner. rlhe rear end ot the detentl" rests upon a rcarward-extending arm, U', which is termed at the upper end of the trigger V'. Said trigger is pivoted on a pin, XV', that passes transversely through the parts of the ham mer-block, and the lower end of the trigger projectsdownward from the hammerblock, as shown.

X' represents a spring, which bears against the upper side ot the detent T' at. a suitable distance in rear of its pivot, the function. of the said spring being to keep said detent in engagement with one of the notches of the hammer.

Y' represents the main hammer-sprin g, which has its rear end secured in a notch near the rear end of the arm G', and has its front end connected to a rcarward-extending arm, Z', at the lower end of the hammer by means of a T-headed link, A2, the upper end of which is loosely connected to the tree end of the spring Y'.

'S2 represents a flat sprin g, which is arranged at a suitable distance under the spring Y', has its rear end secured in a notch on the upper side ol' arm G', and has its trout end bearing downward on the arm Z' of the hammer, the 'function of the said spring being to cause the hammer to rebound inunediately after discharging the cartridge. The upper portion ot the hammer is passed through the portion ll in the lock-ease.

C2 represents a tang or link, which has its front end provided on opposite sides with shoulders D2, which engage notches or grooves E2, formed in the interior of the lock case, at the lower inner corner thereof. The rear portieri of the said tang is fitted in a longitudinal groove, F2,'which is made in the lower side ot the stock. Screws G2 extend transversely through the sides of the lock-case at the lower rear corner thereof, and engage the front end of the tang C2, and vertical bolts H2 pass through the rear end of said tang and engage the stock. rlhe tang C2 and tang B serve to secure the lock-case rigidly to the stock, as will be readily understood.

The operation of our invention is as follows: Vhen the gun is in its ring position, the guard-lever is turned upward against the lower side of the stock,so as to cause thelink C' to force the breech-block upward in the opening G, so as to close the breech of. the barrel and bear against the base of the cartridge, and the vshoulder L' of the guard-lever engages the arm K' of thc hammer-block and thereby raises the latter. The hammer is cocked in the usual manner, and the piece is discharged by pulling' the trigger, so as to cause the hammer to descend and strike the ring-pin. The guard-lever is then swung downward, so Aas to cause the link C' to draw downward on the breech-block. ',lhe first portion of the downward movement of the latter is in a vertical 4direction until the shoulder at the upper end of the recess U in the front side of the breech-block comes in engagement with the pin or bolt M, on which the extractor-arm is pivoted. Said pin or bolt then acts as a pivot for the breech-block, and as the guard-lever continues to swing downward the link C' draws forward on the rear corner of the breech-block and consequently swings or partly rotates the breech-block, so as to cause the upper end thereof to swing rearward and downward in the opening` (l and trom the breech of the barrel. The Vfirst or vertical portion of the descent of the breechblock is effected independently of the ex tractor-arm, because the vertical portion ot the recess V enables the breech-block to clear the cam of the extractor-arm; vbut when the said breech-block reaches the lower limit of its vertical movement the shoulder at the upper end of its recess V engages the upper rear end of the said cam, and consequently as the breech-block moves rearward in its circular path it exerts such great pressure upon the cam-arm of the extractor as to cause the latter to swing rearward on its pivot, and being in engagement with the rim at the base ot' the cartridge-shell the said extraetorarm IOO ITO

causes the cartridge-shell to be withdrawn -froln the breech of the barrel, as will be very readily understood.

The ears B' on the upper side oi' the guardlcver engage the arm K' at the front end of the hammer-block as the guard-lever moves downward, and consequently cause the front end of the hammer-block to be lowered,so as to partly withdraw the hammer into the lockcase, where it will be entirelyout of the way, and hence the person using the gun has free access to the breech of the barrel and can readily insert another cartridge therein.

lt sometimes happens after a gun has been repeatedly discharged that the cartridge binds or sticks in the breech before it is driven home therein, and in the breech-loading guns now in common use this is a serious objection, for the reason that the projecting rear end of the cartridge becomes engaged bythe breech-block and the mechanism of the gun is prevented from being operated. Our improved breech-loading gun hereinbefore described is not open to this objection, because our breech-block, after being partly lowered, completes its movement by swinging rearwardly from the breech of the barrel. In the-event that a cartridge should stick while being inserted in the breech of our improved gun, the operator raises the guard-lever and at the initial movement thereof the link C', by pressing rearward on the rear lower corner of the breech-block, swings the upper end of the breech-block forward, the pin or bolt M, forming the fulcrum of the breechblock, and rearward play of the latter being` prevented by the transverse partition K, and consequently the leverage exerted upon the breech-block is so great that the front upper end of the same engages the base of the cartridge and forces it homein the breech of the barrel. As the guard-lever continues to ascend, the rear side of the breech-block is caused to bear squarely against the vertical partition K, and consequently the breechblock* is guided in a vertical direction and caused to move upward in contact with and rear of the base of the cartridge. As the guard-lever continues to swing upward, the lower end of the link C is gradually raised, and by the time the rear end of the guardlever is in contact with the lower side of the stocksaid link has passed the dead-centerthat is to say, its front end is slightly higher than its rear end-and the link is thereby caused to retain the guard-lever in its elevated posit-ion, so as to lock the same and the mechanism in the lockcase.

Having thus described our invention,.we claiml. The combination, in a breech-loading gun, of the case having the vertical guideway G at the rear of the breech of the barrel, the breech-block having its front and rear sides parallel and adapted to move in the vertical way G, the upper end of said block being rounded andthe front side thereof being' provided with the vertical recess, the pin or bolt M, secured in the lock-case and engaging said recess, the guard-lever pivoted to the lockcase, and the link connecting the same to the breech-block, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a breech loading gun, of the lock-case, the vertical guideway G in rear of the breech of the barrel, the pin or bolt M, arranged transversely in the front side of the guideway, the breech-block fitted in the guideway G and having its front and rear Y sides parallel, said breech-block having its upper side rounded, provided in its front side with the vertical transverse notch U, engaging pin or bolt M, and having the vertical recess V on one side communicating with said notch, the extractor-arm pivoted on the p in or bolt M and having the rearward-extendin cam at its lower end Working in recess V, the guard-lever pivoted to the lock-case, and the link connecting the guard-lever to the breechblock, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the lock-ease having the vertical guideway G, the vertically-reciprocatin g breech-.block arranged in the said guideway, provided with the ears D', and having the slot or recess U in its front face, the pivotal pin M, seated in the lock-case and engaging the slot or recess U, the guard-lever pivoted to the lock-case and having the ears B', and the link C', having one end pivoted in said ears B' and the other end pivoted in the ears D', substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a breech-loading iire-arm, of the lock-case, the breech-'block guided therein, the guard-lever pivoted to the lock-case and Ahaving the shoulder L', the link connecting the said lever to the breechblock, and the pivoted swinging hammerblock carrying the hammer and trigger and having the arm K', engaging the shoulder L' of the guard-lever, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in a breech-loading gun, of the lock-case, the movable breechblock guided therein, thepivoted guard-lever connected to the breech-block and having the shoulder L', and the pivoted hammer-block carrying the hammer and trigger and trigger-spring and having the arm K', adapted to engage the shoulder L' of the guard-lever, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in a breechloading fire-arm, of the lock-case having the vertical guideway G, the recess I, the opening H, and the partition K between the recess and the guideway, the pin or bolt M, arranged transversly in the front side of the guideway, the extractor-arm pivoted on said pin or bolt and having the cam on its lower end, the breechblock fitted in the guideway having its upper side rounded, provided on its front side with the vertical recess U, engaging the pin or bolt M, and having the recess V on one side engaging a cam of the extractor-arm, the

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guard-lever having its front end pivoted to the lock-case and provided with the shoulder L, the link connecting Said .rod orlever to the breech-block, for the purpose Set forth, the hammer-block arranged in the recess I and having its rear end pivoted, Said hammerblock having its front end provided with the arm K', engaging the shoulder L, and the hammer, trigger, and spring secured to and carried by the hammer-block, the hammer being adapted to move upward and down- Ward in the opening H, substantially as described.

7. In a iire-arm, the combination of tlie lock case, the vertically -movable breechblock guided therein and having the transverse vertical recess, the upper end of the breech-block being rounded, the pivotal pin or bolt in the recess, and the guard-lever and connections between the same and the breechblock, substantially as described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto afxed our signatu res in presence of two Witnesses.

J OI-IN II.l REDFIELD. SAMUEL H. REDFIELD.

Vitnesses:

A. F. LEWIS, A. L. LEAviTT. 

